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Arrow Season 5 Recruits Carly Pope

After a woefully uneven fourth season of The CW’s hit DC TV series Arrow, fans were left wondering if the flagship tent pole of the universe had run out of steam. Aside from serving as a launching pad for the ever-growing roster of superhero talent that is taking over the network’s primetime slots, many have felt that the series has largely become a pale imitation of its former self, and is quickly becoming overshadowed by the likes of The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and now Supergirl, which made the leap from CBS to The CW after the former let it go following the end of its first season.

The resulting backlash, which hasn’t yet derailed the series in terms of ratings, has forced the show to revamp things somewhat, and make big promises for the upcoming fifth season. A slew of rumors, such as the possible appearance of DC mainstay Spectre making an appearance in the new season, as well as an onslaught of cast additions, have leant some credence to the idea in the minds of the hopeful. The casting of Chad Coleman (The Walking Dead) as crime boss Tobias Church adds some weight to ensemble, and the promotion of Echo Kellum’s Curtis Holt to a role akin to Cisco’s on The Flash certainly adds to the dynamic of Team Arrow. However, a new casting perhaps hints to some intriguing possibilities for things to come in Star City.

TV Insider has confirmed that Carly Pope (Elysium) has been added to the series in the recurring role of Susan Williams, a journalist from Coast City. The news raises some eyebrows for fans of DC comics, as Coast City is also known as the hometown of none other than the Green Lantern. While this isn’t the first time Green Lantern’s hometown has been referenced in the series, the fact that, in the comics, Susan Williams is the sister-in-law of Green Lantern Hal Jordan certainly catches many fans' attention.

Though the inclusion of Williams is no guarantee that Green Lantern will in fact show up in this upcoming season of Arrow, the possibility now seems greater than it has before. The introduction of Green Lantern has long been a dream for fans of the series and this move could be an indication that Arrow is planning something big.

Of course, Arrow has been known to play a long game with the introduction of fan favorites of the comic books. Fans will remember that there was a full season of buildup between the first mention of Ra’s al Ghul’s name in season two and his first appearance in season three. Even if Williams does serve as a gateway to Green Lantern, that doesn’t mean to expect it anytime soon.

Still, it would make sense given the lackluster reception the last season, and even season three to some extent, had among fans. His introduction into the Arrowverse would be a monumental move towards a more expansive DC TV universe, which seems to be the direction they’re trying to take the universe overall. With the upcoming Flashpoint storyline on The Flash and the surprise introduction Hourman in the final episode of Legends of Tomorrow, not to mention the possibility of more crossovers with Supergirl and the introduction of The Man of Steel himself, bringing Green Lantern into the fold feels like a natural step to take.

With or without Green Lantern, however, the addition of Pope to the cast of Arrow is a sign that the show is potentially trying to course correct some of the perceived mistakes of recent seasons. Pope is a fine actress whose presence will only add to the series, regardless of where they end up going from here. For now, we’ll just take a wait-and-see approach on the prospect of Green Lantern. We’ll keep you posted on any and all news that develops.

The Flash season 3 will premiere Tuesday October 4th at 8pm on The CW, Arrow season 5 will premiere in the same timeslot on Wednesday October 5th, Supergirl season 2 on Monday October 10th, and Legends of Tomorrow season 2 on Thursday October 13th.